Stars Sign Francis Wathier to Two-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars announced on Wednesday that they have re-signed left wing Francis Wathier to a two-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  He was held pointless in only one game with the Stars this past season.  He also appeared in 75 games with Texas of the AHL, scoring 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points and 94 penalty minutes.  This is really just a depth signing for the Stars, as Wathier will likely spend most of the duration of the new deal in the minors, where he will bring plenty of offensive skill and physical play to the Texas lineup.

Flyers Acquire Nicklas Grossman from Stars

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have acquired defenseman Nicklas Grossman from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft and a third round pick in the 2013 draft. The second round pick is the one the Flyers got from the Los Angeles Kings in the Mike Richards trade and the third round pick was originally obtained in the Darroll Powe trade with the Minnesota Wild. Grossman, who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, has five assists in 53 NHL games this season. Not a bad move for the Flyers, as Grossman will add some much needed veteran depth to the blueline, something the team has been seeking since Chris Pronger was lost for the rest of the season with concussion-like symptoms and a knee injury. Grossman will also add some skill to the penalty kill as a shutdown defender.

Stars Sign Alex Goligoski to Four-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have signed defenseman Alex Goligoski to a four-year contract extension worth $18.4 million. The deal averages out for $4.6 million per season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 36 games so far this season, he has five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. He missed 11 games this season with a broken thumb. Not a bad signing in terms of skill level, as Goligoski brings plenty of offensive skill to the blueline. He has excellent puck-moving skills and mobility, can play lots of minutes, and brings talent to the power play. However, the salary is a bit steep, as the Stars probably could have signed Goligoski for a little bit less money.

Stars Acquire Angelo Esposito from Panthers

The Dallas Stars announced on Friday that they have acquired center Angelo Esposito from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Ondrej Roman. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 16 games this season with San Antonio of the AHL, Esposito has two goals and three assists for five points. He also appeared in three games with Cincinnati of the ECHL, scoring one assist. In 24 games this season with Texas of the AHL, Roman has one goal and four assists for five points. He has also appeared in six games with Idaho of the ECHL, scoring two goals and four assists for six points. Both players have yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth move for the Stars, as Esposito has struggled mightily since entering the minor league ranks a couple seasons ago. Once projected to be the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, his stock began to drop during the 2006-07 season. Since then, he has not been able to crack an NHL roster and has seen himself traded several times in the process. Perhaps the change of scenery will help him improve his offensive game a little bit, but more than likely, his offensive output will continue to be low. As for the Panthers, Roman will be a depth player at best for them and will likely remain in the minors for the rest of the season.

Panthers Acquire Krys Barch from Stars for Jake Hauswirth

The Florida Panthers announced on Wednesday that they have acquired right wing Krys Barch and a sixth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Dallas Stars in exchange for left wing Jake Hauswirth and a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 10 games with the Stars this season, Barch has no points and 23 penalty minutes. Hauswirth has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 17 games with Rio Grande of the CHL. Not a bad depth move for the Panthers, as the team was in need of an enforcer and Barch will help fill that role. He plays with lots of grit and toughness, but don't expect him to score very many points, as he doesn't have a lot of offensive skill. He wasn't being used very much in Dallas so he should see more ice time in Florida. As for the Stars, they get a marginal prospect in Hauswirth who has some bottom-six forward skill, but is probably still a few seasons away from seeing any NHL action.

Stars Add Michael Ryder, Sheldon Souray, Jake Dowell

The Dallas Stars announced on the first day of free agency that they have signed right wing Michael Ryder to a two-year contract worth $7 million and defenseman Sheldon Souray and center Jake Dowell to one-year contracts worth $1.65 million and $800,000, respectively. Ryder's deal will pay him $3.5 million per season, while Souray was signed as an unrestricted free agent after the Edmonton Oilers bought out the final year of his contract. In 79 games last season with the Boston Bruins, Ryder had 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points. He helped the Bruins win their sixth Stanley Cup in franchise history this past June. In 40 games last season with Hershey of the AHL, Souray had four goals and 15 assists for 19 points and 85 penalty minutes. He hasn't played in the NHL since the 2009-10 season with the Edmonton Oilers. Dowell had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 79 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. These aren't bad signings for the Stars, as all three players will bring plenty of depth to the team. Ryder will bring some goal-scoring ability to the forward lines, as well as lots of skill to the power play despite being woefully inconsistent in his scoring. Perhaps being reunited with Mike Ribeiro, whom he played with in Montreal from 2003 to 2006, will help him regain some of the scoring touch he had early in his career. Souray will bring a great shot, plenty of leadership skills, some grit, as well as lots of offensive skill to the blueline and power play. However, he is extremely prone to injury, which has effected his skills at the NHL level at times. The Stars were wise to sign him to a short-term, inexpensive contract in case he should struggle next season. Look for him to have a bounce-back season in 2011-12 to prove to the rest of the league he still has the ability to play in the NHL. Dowell will bring plenty of energy, grit, and defensive skill to the checking lines in Dallas.

Stars Sign Radek Dvorak and Vernon Fiddler

The Dallas Stars announced on the first day of free agency that they have signed right wing Radek Dvorak to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million and left wing Vernon Fiddler to a three-year contract worth $5.4 million. Fiddler's deal will average out to $1.8 million per season. In 66 games last season with the Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers, Dvorak had seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. Fiddler appeared in 71 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring six goals and 16 assists for 22 points. These aren't bad depth signings for the Stars, as both players will bring plenty of offensive depth to the team. Dvorak will bring plenty of two-way skill to the wing, as well as experience to the penalty kill. He should be an effective third line forward for the Stars. Fiddler has solid defensive skill, is good on faceoffs, can play an agitating brand of hockey, and is good on the penalty kill. He should be an excellent checking line forward for the team.

Stars Sign Defenseman Adam Pardy to Two-Year Deal

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have signed defenseman Adam Pardy to a two-year contract worth $4 million. The deal will pay him $2 million per season. In 30 games last season with the Calgary Flames, he had one goal and six assists for seven points. He missed 25 games early in the 2010-11 season with a shoulder injury and the last 27 games of the season with an upper body injury. Not a bad depth signing for the Stars, as Pardy brings the team plenty of size and a little bit of grit on defense. However, $2 million per season is a bit much for him, so he will really have to prove he is worth that money at training camp and throughout the course of the regular season.

Stars Sign Brad Lukowich to One-Year Contract

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have signed defenseman Brad Lukowich to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In five games last season with the Stars, he had no points. He also appeared in 67 games with Texas of the AHL, scoring four goals and 23 assists for 27 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Stars, as Lukowich will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors. If he sees any time with Dallas, he will bring plenty of veteran depth to the blueline.

Stars Sign Richard Bachman and Dan Spang to One-Year Deals

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have signed goaltender Richard Bachman and defenseman Dan Spang to one-year, two-way contracts. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. Bachman would have been a restricted free agent on July 1, while Spang was signed as a free agent. Bachman appeared in one game with the Stars last season, playing the last 10 minutes of the December 11, 2010 game against the Phoenix Coyotes after Andrew Raycroft allowed five goals on 30 shots. He made four saves and allowed no goals. He also played in 55 games with Texas of the AHL, posting a 28-19-5 record, six shutouts, a 2.20 GAA, and a .927 save percentage. Spang appeared in 77 games last season with Texas, scoring 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points. These are really just depth signings for the Stars, as both players will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Stars Re-Sign Forwards Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour

The Dallas Stars announced on Thursday that they have signed center Travis Morin to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.05 million and right wing Colton Sceviour to a one-year, two-way contract. Morin's contract will pay him $525,000 per season at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level, while the financial terms of Sceviour's deal were not disclosed. Both players would have been free agents this summer. In three games this past season with Dallas, Morin had no points. He also appeared in 64 games with Texas of the AHL, scoring 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points. Sceviour played in one game with the Stars, scoring no points. He also appeared in 77 games with Texas, scoring 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points. These are really just depth signings for the Stars, as both players will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Stars Acquire Goligoski from Penguins for Neal, Niskanen

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have acquired defenseman Alex Goligoski from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for left wing James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. All three players still have one year left on their current contracts and will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2012. In 60 games this season, Goligoski has nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points. Neal has 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points in 59 games, while Niskanen has six assists in 45 games. This is a good trade for the Penguins, as Neal brings them lots of offensive and goal-scoring skill on the wing. The Penguins have been looking for a scoring winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby for the past couple seasons and they have found that in Neal. Plus, he brings some much-needed depth on offense with the injuries to Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, and Mark Letestu. In Niskanen, the Penguins get a smooth-skating defenseman who has some offensive skill. In Goligoski, the Stars get some much-needed offensive help on the blueline, as well as a decent puck-mover with some mobility. However, the price to acquire him was a little steep in giving up Neal and Niskanen. Plus, with Brad Richards currently sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, giving up Neal was not really a great idea, as it will deplete their offense a bit. It is possible Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk made this move to shed some salary to attempt to retain Richards, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Still, giving up Neal costs the team some offense, but they still could pursue another forward before the February 28 trade deadline.

Stars Sign Jason Williams to One-Year Contract

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have signed right wing Jason Williams to a one-year, two-way contract for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. The deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 17 games this season with Connecticut of the AHL, he has four goals and nine assists for 13 points. In 44 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings, he had six goals and nine assists for 15 points. He also missed 38 games last season with a broken fibula. Not a bad depth signing for the Stars, as Williams will bring versatility, offensive and veteran depth, and some skill to the power play.

Maple Leafs Acquire Brunnstrom from Stars for Stefanovich

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that they have acquired right wing Fabian Brunnstrom from the Dallas Stars in exchange for right wing prospect Mikhail Stefanovich. Brunnstrom, who will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, has played the entire season in the AHL with Texas, scoring 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 37 games. He will report to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, and if he plays well, could be called up to play with the Maple Leafs. In 99 career NHL games, all with Dallas, he has 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points. Stefanovich has one goal in 15 games with Dynamo Minsk of the KHL this season and has also appeared in two games with the Marlies, scoring no points. This isn't a bad depth move for the Maple Leafs, as Brunnstrom still does have the potential to become a decent scoring forward in the NHL. Perhaps a fresh start in Toronto can help him get his NHL career back on track. As for the Stars, they get a potential scoring forward in Stefanovich. While he does have the ability to score goals, he is still a few years away from seeing any NHL action, so he will continue to develop in either the AHL or possibly the KHL.

Stars Acquire Jamie Langenbrunner from Devils

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have acquired right wing Jamie Langenbrunner from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Langenbrunner, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, will begin his second stint with the Stars. He played in Dallas from 1994 to 2002 when he was traded to the Devils with Joe Nieuwendyk in exchange for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay, and a first round pick in 2002. In 31 games so far this season, he has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He missed eight games in November with a neck injury. In 996 career NHL games with the Stars and Devils, he has 232 goals and 388 assists for 620 points. Not a bad move for the Stars, as Langenbrunner will add lots of offensive depth to the team. He is extremely versatile and has lots of leadership qualities, so he should be an excellent addition for Dallas as they continue to make a push for the playoffs.

Stars Sign Trevor Daley to Six-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have signed defenseman Trevor Daley to a six-year contract extension worth $19.8 million. The deal averages out to $3.3 million per season and includes a no-trade clause. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 37 games so far this season, he has two goals and nine assists for 11 points and 16 penalty minutes. In 453 career NHL games, all with Dallas, he has 28 goals and 86 assists for 114 points and 363 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Stars, as Daley is a very mobile defenseman capable of putting up big minutes. He also plays with plenty of toughness and works very hard on the ice. However, the Stars probably could have re-signed Daley for a little less money and the no-trade clause is unnecessary, in my opinion.

Jere Lehtinen Announces His Retirement

After 14 seasons in the NHL, right wing Jere Lehtinen announced his retirement in a statement through the Dallas Stars. Originally drafted by the Minnesota North Stars prior to the team's relocation to Dallas, the 37-year-old right wing became one of the top defensive forwards in the NHL after winning the Selke Trophy in 1998, 1999, and 2003. He also helped the Stars win their only Stanley Cup to date in 1999. In 875 career NHL games, all with the Stars, he had 243 goals and 271 assists for 514 points. It's unfortunate to see Lehtinen call it a career, as he was one of the greatest two-way players the game has ever seen. He had an excellent defensive game, played with lots of class, and could also score goals. His contributions on the ice will be missed.

Stars Re-Sign James Neal & Matt Niskanen

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have re-signed left wing James Neal to a two-year contract worth $5.75 million and defenseman Matt Niskanen to a two-year contract worth $3 million. Neal's deal averages out to $2.875 million per season, while Niskanen's contract averages out to $1.5 million per season. These are decent signings for the Stars, as both players have lots of promise. Neal brings plenty of goal-scoring depth and offensive skill to the forward lines, while Niskanen provides plenty of offensive skill to the blueline, as well as excellent skating.

Star Re-Sign Defenseman Grossman to Two-Year Deal

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Nicklas Grossman to a two-year contract worth $3.25 million. The deal averages out to $1.625 million per season. In 71 games last season with the Stars, he had seven assists. Not a bad signing for Dallas, as Grossman gives the team a capable defensive defenseman. He has good size and is decent on the penalty kill, making him an effective fifth or sixth defenseman.

Stars Re-Sign Forward Fabian Brunnstrom

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have avoided salary arbitration with right wing Fabian Brunnstrom and re-signed him to a one-year contract worth $675,000. In 44 games last season with the Stars, he had two goals and nine assists for 11 points. He also appeared in eight games with Texas of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. Well, this is an affordable signing for the Stars, to say the least. Brunnstrom has struggled mightily at the NHL level since joining Dallas two years ago and hasn't been able to find a lot of consistency in his game. However, he does possess good speed and plenty of offensive skill, and if he can improve his game, he could be a dangerous forward for the Stars. If he has another bad year, don't be surprised if Brunnstrom trade rumors begin to heat up, or, possibly him returning to Europe next summer.